Printing interpreter



April 24, 1951 J. MUELLER 2,550,370

PRINTING INTERPRETER Filed Dec. 23, 1944 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

mvnrroa JOHN WELLER 7 ATTORNEY April 24, 1951 Filed Dec. 23, 1944J.MUELLER PRINTING INTERPRETER 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 IJOHN'MUELLER M Jmzh J.MUELLER PRINTING INTERPRETER April 24, 1951 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.:23, 1944 FIG. 3

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ATTOR NC! J. MUELLER PRINTING INTERPRETER April 24, 1951 Filed Dec. 23,1944 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 i OC . I 9 5 on we? m 0 0N.

JOHN WELLER av 2,1. A ATTORNEY April 24, 1951 MUELLER PRINTINGINTERPRETER Filed Dec 23 1944. 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 I BYkLL/Jfil? A'r-romnApril 24, 195.1

Filed Dec. 23, 1944 FIG. 6

J. MUELLER PRINTING INTERPRETER 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR JOHN MUELLERBY )1 AAA-EL;

ATTORNEY Ap 19.51 J. MUELLER 2,550,370

I PRINTING INTERPRETER Filed Dec. 23, 1944 11'SheetsSheet 7 uvcm'oaJOHril MUELLER ATTORNEY April 24, 1951 I J. MUELLER PRINTING INTERPRETERll Sheets-Sheet 9 E'iled Dec. 2?, 1944 mvm-ma JOHN MUELLER av J/LATTORNEY April 24, 195"] v J. MUELLER PRINTING INTERPiRETER Q 11Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 23, 1944 mama I JQ'N MILLER av )X. 14

ATTORNEY Ap 24, 1951 J. MUELLER PRINTING INTERPRETER l1 Sheets-Sheet 11Filed Dec. 23, 1944 33 3 .93 3 .3 .8m .3. um .8w .3.

mvzmon JOHN MUELLER Y "Ju umfr B m2; 02-02mm 02; man:

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ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 19 51 OFFICE PRINTING INTERPRETER JohnMueller, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand 1nc., Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 23, 1944, Serial No.569,502

18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for interpreting the statisticaldata perforated in a card and printing the data on the same card inwhich it is punched, or on a separate card.

In the business use of statistical data two different types of punchedcards are generally employed. The index data in one card is in the formof circular holes and in the other card in the form of slots. Difierenttypes of machines are necessary in the use of these differentlyperforated cards and the cards and the machines do not lend themselvesto interchangeable use.

tained in the round hole cards, both the round hole card and the slottedhole card must be put through a printing interpreter. This interpreterin one use is adapted for sensing the round hole card and then printingon the face thereof the data sensed therein. For the use contemplated bythe present invention it is desirable to punch in the round hole card,the data perforated in the slotted card, so that the related round holeand slotted cards can be passed through the interpreter in sequence forsensing the data of the round hole card and printing it on the slottedhole card. Thus it is possible, by punching a card that can be sensed inone type of machine with data corresponding to the data in a card thatcan not be sensed in the same machine, to print the data on the cardthat can not be sensed. The well known ninety-column Powers data cardprovides a code of punched data wherein all the digits and a'fullalphabet may be accommodated.

A printing interpreter of the type described in Patent 2,311,471 issuedto R. W. Ritzert on February 16, 1943, and the divisional applicationthereof and now Patent 2,426,951 issued September 2,1947, is used forthe purpose of interpreting the data punched in a Powers data card andthen printing the data at selected positions on the same card.

An object of the present invention is to apply to said printinginterpreter a mechanism that 2 done directly upon the lead or data carditself, when the data perforations of cards of this type alone, are tobe interpreted and printed on the same card.

, Another object of the invention is to position a lead data card,having data to be interpreted,

so that the perforations can be sensed and to sequentially position atrailer record card that may have data punched therein that is not to beinterpreted, so that said trailer card can not be sensed, means beingalso provided for rendering the trailer card positioning meansinefl'ective.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide for the shift of aunit of the mechanism so that either the upper or the lower zone of thedata card may be sensed; to automatically control the printing stops sothat the printing on either a data or a record card may be located withrespect to the zone of the data card from which the interpreted data hasbeen sensed; and to disable the printing mechanism so that the lead ordata card from which the data has been sensed, will not be printed uponwhen used in conjunction with a trailer or record card to be printedupon.

Otherobjects and structural features of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 when combined, form a Viewin sectional elevation looking at the right hand side of theinterpreter, showing the sensing and printing mechanisms;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the printing mechanism shown in Fig. 2illustrating part of the printing control means;

Fig. 4 is a view looking toward the left hand side of the interpretershowing the machine controlling mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the controlling mechanism illustrated inFig. 4 with the parts in the position they occupy at a time when a leador data card is in the sensing chamber;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5.parts being broken to illustrate the construction;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of part of the mechanism illustratedin Fig. 5 showing the parts in record card detaining position Fig. 9 isa view similar to Fig. 8 showing the card stop open and the. printlockout pawl =in print position;

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the sensing chamber showing adata card stopped in position to be sensed;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing a record or trailer cardstopped in a position where its data openings can not be sensed;

Fig. 12 is a four position diagrammatic illustration of the stop andlatchingcontrols that govern the operation of the mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts adjusted to printdata on the same card from which it is interpreted;

Fig. 14 is a view in front elevation of a connection box, some partsbeing shown in section, illustrating the method of shifting the upperand lower interponents and changing the card stops;

Fig. 15 is a side view of the mechanism of Fig. 14 showing the operationof means for preventing shift of the interponents and controlling thecard stops;

Fig. 16 is a view in perspective of the printing card stops and theircontrol mechanism; and

Fig. 17 is a chart of the cycle of operation of the machine showing therelative functions of the main parts of the mechanism and the relationof the card movement with respect thereto.

The mechanism of the printing interpreter illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2is, in its general organization, shown and described in the patent toRitzert No. 2,311,471 of February 16, 1943; in Patent 2,426,951 issuedSeptember 2, 1947, forming a division thereof and in the Powerstabulator patents to Lasker, 2,044,119 of June 16,1936, and 2,323,816 ofJuly 6. 1943. Perforated cards are fed, one at a time, from a supplymagazine l0 by a picker H and feed rolls l2 to an analyzing or sensingunit consisting of a lower sensing pin box |3 carrying sensing ,pins l4and pin locking slides IS. The pin box is vertically reciprocated from amain shaft It so that the sensing pins I4 pass through the data indexperforations of a card held in the card chamber H by a card stop l8 andcause the sensed data to be set up in an upper stationary pin box l9provided with set pins 28, retract latch plates 2| and cam plates 22.The operations of the various parts are coordinated by suitable cams andfully described in the patents herein referred to.

As the data is set up in the upper pin box, the movements of the pins ofthe latter are transferred, through a removable connection box 23 (Fig.14), to a decoding unit 24, whose stop bars 25 project to limit theupward travel of the printing wheel racks 26 that position the printingwheels 21 for printing impression on a card arrested therebeneath by anadjustable stop mechanism 28 and held by a clamp or pressure pad 29. Theracks are released for rising movement under the influence of theirsprings 35, and restored by a vertically reciprocated rack bail 38.

After printing, the cards are passed by rolls 3| to an eject'pocket 32.As one card is in the sensing chamber, the preceding card is in theprinting chamber, the cyclic operation of the machine beingsubstantially the same as disclosed in Patent 2,311,471, in whichpatent, each card is sensed and printed to provide a record thereon ofthe data that is punched therein. The present invention contemplatesmechanism that may be selectively adjusted to carry out the functions ofthe machine covered by said patent and in addition make it possible,without altering the feeding sequence of the cards, to sense and printthem alternately so that the data punched in the lead or data card of apair may be printed on the trailer or record card of said pair. To thisend reference is made to Fig. 3 of Patent 2,323,816 wherein the cardstop and pin retract mechanisms find their counterparts in Figs. 4 and 5of the present disclosure, in which a stop cam 33 and a. retract cam 34are each mounted on the main shaft |6 together with a picker operatingcam 36. The latter causes the feed of one card at a time from themagazine ID to the sensing unit as fully explained in the patentsreferred to. The retract cam. near the completion of each rotation ofthe main shaft l6 momentarily lifts a roller lever 31 and a verticalpush rod 38, the upper end of the latter of which raises one end of alift or retract finger 39 loosely pivoted on a retract shaft 4|journalled in suitable brackets on the frame of the machine. Adjacentthe lift finger 39, the retract shaft 4| has keyed thereto spacedretract arms 42 in the outer ends of which is journalled a retractcontrol pawl shaft 43 carrying retract control pawls 44 and 45. Manuallycontrolled retract pawl 45 is loosely pivoted on shaft 43 while the cardcontrolled retract pawl 44 is fixed thereto, both pawls presenting (Fig.7) toe portions 46 and shoulders 41, the latter of which engages a limitpin 48 secured in the adjacent arm 42. Pawl 45 has a pin and slotconnection 50 in a vertical extension 49 thereof, with a pawl settinglink 5| (Figs. 4, 5, and 7) which is notched as at 52 (Fig. 7) foradjustable relation with a slotted detent plate 53 mounted on the frontface of the machine. The link is adjusted endwise by manipulation of thefinger knob 54 against the resistance of a spring 55 (Fig. 13) to bringthe toe 46 or pawl 45 over a lift lug 56 (Fig. 5) formed on top of thelift finger 39.

Heretofore, in the operation of the interpreter, the set-pin latchplates 2| were actuated in each cycle of machine operation by movementof the lift finger which was secured directly to and rocked theretractshaft 4| to cause unlatchinsz; movement of the plates 2|. In thepresent instance, it is necessary that the machine also operate in likemanner but, in addition, be conditioned by adjustment of thepawl settinglink 5| to place control of the retract mechanism in the data card thatis being sensed, so that the data set up in the upper pin box l9 can beretained while the trailer or record card of a pair of cards passesthrough the sensing mechanism. To this end, the card controlled retractpawl 44 fixed to shaft 43 is arranged alongside pawl 45 so that its toe46 may be swung to a position over the lug 56 on lift finger 39whenshaft 43 is rocked at its opposite end by a retract link 51 (Figs. 4 and7).

When the interpreter is to be used to sense a data card and then printthe data punched therein directly on said data card, the pawl settinglink 5| is pushed inwardly to throw the toe of pawl 45 over the lift lug56 (Fig. 13) so that on each cycle of machine operation when the retractcam lifts push rod 38, the latter will, through finger 39 and pawl 45,raise the shaft 43 and, through the retract arms 42, rock the retractshaft 4|.

When the data card itself is to control the retract mechanism (Fig. 7)the link 5| is released from plate 53 and moves outwardly, and a controlarm 58 attached thereto and having a free end 59, is moved to withdrawsaid end from contact with the edge of the retract link 57 to permit thespring 6| to move the lower end of said link into operating relationwith the pawl shaft 49. Th'elowerendofthelinkllisprovided with a bayonetslot 92 in whose lateral shouldered join the link 91 with the pawl shaft49 through an arm 99 secured to said shaft and on which .arm said pin 94is mounted. .When the link ii is pushed in to enable pawl to cause theretract shaft 4i to be operated once in each cycle, as explained, thefree end 59 of arm 50 pushes the lower end of link 91 to disengagethe-pin 04 from the lateral slot extension 63 and align it with thevertical portion of the slot so that 'ver- I tical movement of link 51will be ineffective influence the pawl shaft 49. Thus, while a con- P edthrough the machine without the ,record cards.

. It is deemed desirable describe theoperation and control of theretract means before proceeding with a description of the coordinatedaction of the cards, the-stop and the-printing I ammo.tobesense'dandthe'datathereofprintedona trailer card. adjustment forthe latter of which extension 09 a pin 94 .then seats'to operativelyismade by moving link II out to allow spring 9| to operatively associatelink "with pawl shaft 49 through arm 99 (Figs. 5 and 7). Whenthe leadcard goes into the card. chamber it is stopped I.

against the stop strip 12 which is moved down to card arresting positionby the stop. link 11. The

card is sensed and a control hole therein causes operation through oneof the sensing pins I4 and a set pin 20, of a controlxpin 09 (Figs. land7) j -in the connection box 29 which rocks a control controls, which areconditioned by the pawl setting means. When a card-is fed into the cardchamber I1' (Fig. 2), which consists of a passage formedin the upper pinbox I9-by spacing an upper pin plate 61 and a lower pin plate 00 (Figs.10 and 4) through the medium of plate separators 99, the card isarrested in either a sensing or anon-sensing; position by the card stopI8. The latter comprises a frame 1I carrying a stopstrip I2 on-which ismounted the spaced stop blocks 19. Theirame H is motable vertically tobring the stop strip 12 into card stopping position so that the dataindex positions of a lead card will be in register with the sensing pinsI4. .The frame 1I (Fig. ll) is also movable to bring the stop blocks 19into card arresting position so that the data index positions of atrailer card do-not register with the sensing pins. Hence. aroundholeicard can abut the stop strip 12 to be sensed-but a slotted typecard which cannot be sensed by round sensing pins will abut the stopblocks 13 and the solid zones v of the card between the-horizontal rowsof data index positions will register with the sensing pins and damageto the slots will be prevented as the slotted type card passes throughthe card sensing chamber. I

When the interpreter is operating to print the data on the same cardfrom which 'it'has been interpreted, Fig. 13, the adjusting link- 51 isat its inwardly set position, the toe of pawl 40 overlies the lift lug96 and the card controlled retract link 51 is heldinefl'ective by arm50. The card stop cam 93 on the main shaft I6 (Pig. 4),

shaft 99 journalled in suitable brackets'on the frame of the decodingunit 24 and carrying both the arm n which Is engaged by the control pin,and the arm 99 which moves the link 51 vertically. The set pin 20corresponding to the control hole of the card is not latched up due to-the absence of a lower extrusion thereon ;for .20

latching eng gement with the adiacent retract latch plate 2i and the arm01 is wide enough to be engaged by pin 89 in'any'adJu'sted position of ia sliding frame. which will be hereinafter referred to inconnection-with the description of a card-stop-changing. rneans'shown inFigs. 3, l4,

.When the ens pulled up by arm as a I rocks shaft 49 counter-clockwisethrough pin 04 and arm, and positions the toe 46 of pawl 44 over the lug59 of the lift or retract finger 39.

At the same time (Figs. 5, 6, and '7), another arm 9I fixed to the shaft43, operating through a slotted push link 92, rocks a hook lever 93,pivoted to an auxiliary frame 94, to push a hook link 99 to the leftagainst the resistance of a spring 91 until a latch 98 pivoted at 99 tosaid link, rides over the edge of a keeper plate IOI far enough for ashouldered portion I02 of said latch 98 to through a cam arm 19 pullsastop link 11 down at about l94degreesof each cycle of main shaftrotation. The upper end of the link 11 is slotted as at 18 (Figs. 5 and13) to receive a pin 00 pro- Jecting from the end of astop shaft arm 19,through the latter of which a stop shaft ii is rocked and rocks, throughan arm 92 and a link 89, stop frame actuating levers 04 to raise andlower the frame H in accordance with the degree of rocking movementgiven to the stop shaft. This degree of rocking movement is theme ineach cycle of machine operation when the interpreter is sensing andprinting the same card, but

have latching engagement with the plate under the influence of a springI03. The movement of I the hook link tensionsa hook spring I04. Thelatter connects the link 90 with a hook stud' I05 protruding through aslot I06 in link 96 from a hook 101, which latter is pivotally suspendedas at I00 from the stop shaft arm 19. When the control pin 00 operates,the stop link 11 is in its lowered position and the card stop 12 isclosed, and when the spring I04 is tensioned, it causes the catch end I09 (Figs. 5 and 12) of the hook I01 to press against the inside of avertical flange III formed at one. side edge of a stop link extensionII2, which is adjustably secured to the link 11 by the screws I I9 andan eccentric adjusting stud II4.

When the link 11 rises to open the card stop and release the data orlead card, its vertical movement will be greater than the verticalmovement of the hook due to the diflerent radial distances they areconnected to arm 19 from the center of the stop shaft 9|, and flange IIIwill ride off the catch end I09 of the hook I 01 and the latter willimmediately snap beneath the flange I I I under the influence of springI 04 (Figs. 8 and 12). When the next card, which is the trailer, comesinto the card chamber it will be stopped in a diflerent'position thanits predecessor because the stop closing drop of link 11 will, throughextension H2, pull the hook .I01 down a distance equal to the drop ofsaid link and the shorterradius arm of the hook will rotate the stopshaft 9i a sufliciently increased amount to bring the card stop blocks13 into card arresting position. When the hook I01 is pulled down itcauses the pin 90 in shaft arm 19 (Fig. 8) to have is varied inalternate cycles when a lead card is 76 a relatively greater movementdownwardly than the lowering movement of the link 11, which greatermovement is permitted by the slot 18 in the link. The pin thus movesfurther down when the hook I01 pulls on arm 19 than when thelink 11pulls on the pin directly and this difference in downward movement ofthe pin 80 is sufllcient to press down the ledge end I I6 of latch 98 todisengage the shouldered portion I02 of the latch from its keeper plateWI, and allow the spring 91 to pull the hook link 96 to the right, adistance permitted by the length of the slot I06. to move the latch 98to a free position atop plate IOI (Figs. 8 and 12). The extension II2,however, is engaging the hook I01 with sumcient pressure to prevent thehook link 96 from disen gaging the hook I01 from plate II2 by its pullon the stud I05. When the stop link 11 starts to rise on its next stopopening movement (Figs. 9 and 12), the pressure of extension II2 on thehook I01 will be relieved and the. hook link 96,

under influence of spring 91, applying pressure to stud I05 through slotI06, will swing the hook from beneath the flange III of member II2, sothat on the next downward stroke of stop link 11 the stop frame II willbe given its short closing movement (Fig. 5) to place strip 12 inposition to arrest'the next lead or data card.

The auxiliary frame 94 (Figs. 6 and 7) is suitably secured to a part ofthe frame of the machine adjacent the left end of the card sensingmechanism and provides a bearing for the shafts 4|, 43 and BI as' wellas a support for the latch plate I01 and a spring plate II1 to which anend of spring 6| is attached. The frame 94 also has secured thereto ablock I I 8 into which is threaded a stud screw II9 positioned beneathone of the retract arms 42 to provide an adjustable rest therefor. Theframe of the machine supports a guide plate II5 (Fig. 4) throughsuitable slots in which pass the push rod 38, stop link I1 and hook I01.

The printing mechanism of the patent to Ritzert 2,311,471 is employedherein and varies in such details as are necessary to adapt the presentinvention thereto. A cam shaft I20 (Figs. 2 and 3) carrying a number ofcontrol cams including a printing wheel firing cam I2I, a printing wheelrestoring cam I22, a depressor cam H5 and a pressure pad cam 2I0, isdriven in synchronism with the main shaft I6 through the worm gear andwheel combination shown in Fig. 13 of the Ritzert patent referred to andwherein the shafts I2I and I12 have their counterparts in the presentshafts I6 and I20, respectively. Through suitable pitmans operated fromthe shaft I6 to raise and lower the rack bail (Fig. 1), the racks 26 arepermitted to rise under influence of their springs to position theprinting wheels 21 for printing, said racks being restored by downwardmovement of the ball. The racks straddle a fixed cross bar I23, beneathan end of which is disposed a print lockout pawl I24 (Figs. 3 and 7)pivoted with the upper end ofa connecting rod I26, as at I21, to one armof a bell crank I28. The other arm is connected by a restoring link I29witha bail rocker I30, the restoring bail rod I3I of which moves out ofthe path of spring plunger operated firing fingers I35 which force theprint wheels 21 with their support arms I32 down to effect printingaction when said fingers are released by a firing bail I33. The firingbail is actuated through a release arm I34, bell crank I36, draw linkI31, cam arm I38 andcam I 2I while the restoring ball fully retractedposition after printing occurs, is operated by a cam lever I40 connectedto rod I26 and actuated by cam I22. I

The bell crank I28 and lockout pawl I24 are connected by a spring I42which tends to keep the upward of the pawl I24 beneath the bar I23 sothat, as rod I26 is permitted to rise by the low part of its controllingcam I22, it is prevented from having such full rising movement as wouldwithdraw the bail I3I completely out of the path of the firing fingersI35. Hence, when the upper end of the print lockout pawl I24 is inposition to engage the under side of bar I23,printing cannot occur.

When the machine is sensing a card, thecam plates 22 in the upper pinbox will be displaced laterally by the engagement of the set pinextrusions I43 with cam openings I44 in said cam plates and movement ofthe latter will rock a bail arm I46 (Fig. .4) through bail I41 and shaftI48 to place a spring I49 under tension. The upper end of the arm I46has a pin and slot connection I50 with a print control link I5I, the pinbeing connected with one end of the link by the spring I49, the tensionof which will yieldably push link I5I endwise, the latter beingsupported at one end on aparallel link I52 pivoted loosely on shaft 8|(Fig. 7). The end of the print control link ISI carries the oppositelyprojecting pins I55 and I56 which engage the dependinglends I51 and I58of the print control arm I59 and lockout pawl I24, respectively. Theendwise pressure of link I5I acting on the print lockout pawl I20,through" pin I56, will swing the pawl from beneath bar I23 and hold itso, as long as the cam pl ates 22 are in displaced position, so thatprinting can occur on the cards, successively.

When the adjusting link 5| however, is adjusted preparatory to sensinglead .data cards and printing the data thereof on trailer record cardsit becomes necessary tocontrol the printing so that it will occur onlyon the trailer cards. This is accomplished through the medium of anonprint link I6I (Fig. '1) pivotally connecting the upper end of thehook lever 93 with a rock arm I62 secured to a sleeve rock shaft I63 towhich is fixed the print control arm I 59.

When sensing of the lead card occurs (Fig. 5) the hook lever 93 islatched in its swung position, through hook link 96, by the latch 98.The hook lever 93 has pulled on non-print link I6I to rock the sleeveshaft I63 through rock arm I62, and also the print control arm I59 sothat the latter will restrain print control link I5I from having endwisemovement and the print lockout function of pawl I24 will be maintainedby spring I42 until the hook link 96 has its full release movement. Whenthe lead card is sensed, spring I49 (Fig. 4) is placed under tension aspreviously described, but the positive action of the control arm I59 inengagement with pin I55 will negative the movement of the control linkI5I that was momentarily caused by the displace- 'ment of the cam plates22 acting on arm I46.

When the lead card passes into the printing chamber the trailer cardcomes into the sensing chamber (Fig. 8) and when the card stop block 13is fully down the latch 98 is released by pin 80 and permits a slightrelease movement of hook link 96, under influence of spring 91, but notenough to rock hook lever 93 to cause the lockout pawl I24 to becompletely forced from beneath bar I23. However, when the stop link 11starts to rise to open the stop and let the rod I3I which restores theprinting .wheels to trailer card pass into the printing chamber, the

assasvo through link I" will rock the print control arm Ill out oftheway of pin Illso that spring I49 will cause the pin III on printcontrol link III to swing the lockout pawl I24 so that its upperendmovesfrombeneathbarl (Fig.3). Therefore, when the connecting rod I24rises it can have a full stroke which will rock bail I2I entirely out ofthe way of the printing wheel firing lingers Illso that printing occurson the trailer card when the firingbail m is released.

When the trailer card passes through the sensing means, it is not-sensed(Fig. 11) and the pin set-up from the preceding lead card is retainedbecause the control pin 85 (Hg. '1) is not operated to swing controlpawl 44 into position to cause retract, and through the cam plates 22and ball arm I45 the tension on spring I49 (Fig. 4) is maintained. Whenthe lead card ofthe next pair of cards is sensed, the print control'armI59 through the action of control pin 25 is again moved to restrainprint control link iii and allow spring I42 to keep the printlockout'pawl I24 in place beneath the bar I22, so that red I29 cannothave a full rising movement and the lead card will not be printed uponwhen it through the printing chamber.

When the adjusting link 5| is pushed in, the timed relation of theoperating parts of'the mech- .anismissubstantiallythesameasshowninthetiming oi Figs. 29 and 30 oi. the Ritzert Patent 2,311,471. When thelink Si is moved out, the timed operating relation of the parts of themachine is as shown in Fig. 17 of the drawings herein, and, as in theRitzert patent, the beginning of a cycle of operation finds the fullyraised sensing pins ready to start down and the sensing ,m card stopclosed (Fig. 4). The lead or data cards and the trailer or record cards,relatively indicated in outline on the time chart are arranged in themagazine It in alternate sequence and at 30 degrees of main shaftrotation, a lead card is engaged by the picker and advanced by the feedrolls to the card chamber to engage the data card stop I2 which closesat about 200 degrees, the card stop link 'I'I having completed the firstdownward movement of its two stroke cycle. The lead card is sensed atabout 240 degrees and the control pin 85 causes shirt of the hook link95 to its latched position and simultaneous movement of print controlarm I59 to assure movement of lock out pawl I24 beneath the bar I23under tension of spring I42. The card controlled pawl 44 transmitsmovement to the retract shaft H at about 347 degrees butthe continuedrise of the sensing pins results in the new set-up of the set pins whichare fully latched up at 358'. At this time the permutation plates are indecoding position. At 30 degrees of the next cycle the trailer card isengaged by the picker for feeding, the sensing pins are going down andthe control pin is dropped and control pawl 44 (Fig. 7) is released fromretract position and is aligned with pawl 45 (Fig. 5) at about degrees.At about the same time, the printing racks 25 and hail 30 are completelydown and the stop bars 25 of the decoding unit are moving out to stopthe racks in their upward movement which is permitted by the risingmovement of the bail 39 which starts at about 65 degrees. The card stopi2 opens and releases the lead card at 125 degrees and at this time thehook III! will snap degrees and tion of the printing control bails I3Iand about 262 degrees and beneath the extension plate II2 of At about165 degrees the card stops in ingchamber (Fig.3) risetoarrestthe atabout 220 degrees and detain it until it is engaged by the clamp 29 at234 degrees and held beneath the printing wheels 21. The card stop inthe chamber has closed from 194 to 212 through movement of the hook III,the stop shaft arm 19 and its pin 99 have their maximum movement tocause stop blocks I2 (Fig. 8) toarrestthetrailercardatabout229 innon-sensing position, and the pin it releases hook arm as through thelatch es. No

sensing can occur and the pin set-up is not disturbed. The control pin95 and pawl 49 are not moved and the push rod 25 lifts the finger 55without operating the retract shaft 4|. Opera- Ill occurs between 220and 250 degreesbut printing on the lead card which would normally occurat about 245 degrees, is prevented by the lockout pawl I 24 which barsfull release movement of bail III. Theleadcardisreleasedbyapressurepadatleaves the printing chamber and is deposited in the eject pocket 32. Thetrailer card is held in the sensing chamber until the card stop opens inthe following cycle at 132 degrees. The opening or the stop (Fig. 9)releases the hook I01 and hook link 95 has a full movement underinfluence of its spring 91 and swings print control arm I59 away frompin I55 so that pin I58 of print control link I5I can swing the upperend of the print lockout pawl I 24 from beneath bar I23 against theresistance of spring I42. A new lead card comes into the sensingchamber, after the preceding trailer card leaves at about 192 degrees,and is detained against stop I2 for sensing. The trailer card isdetained in the printing chamber and clamped for printing which occursat 245 degrees. In the rest of the cycle the sensing of the new leadcard retracts the set-up of the preceding lead card and the operation ofthe control pin again conditions the mechanism to prevent printing onthe lead card, prevent sensing of the trailer card and permit printingon said trailer card. At the end of the run of cards, a last card isused which will have only a control hole so that retract will occur andthe machine will be cleared. In one pad and controls thereforillustrated in Figs. 7,.

14, 27, 28, and 31 of Ritzert Patent 2,311,471 are employed in thepresent machine with but slight variation and find their counterparts inthe present Figs. 3, i4, 15, and 16. The printing chamber I64 presents acard supporting platen I65 having seven slots in which only two cardstops I56 and I61 are shown in this particular instance. The stops areare elevated in accordance with the zone of the card being sensed andvhalt the card,

for printing, at two different places by engagement with the leadingedge thereof. Stop, I66.

will arrest the card so that printing of the data in the upper zone ofthe card will occur. close. to the top edge of the card and stop I61will arrest the cardso that printing of the data of the lower zone willtake place adjacent said lower zone. The control of stop selection isthrough the adjustment of a sliding frame I59 (see Fig. 14) which shiftsthe interponents i6! ll of the connection box 23 to transfer the motionof the set-up pins 28 corresponding to the upper and lower zones of thecard data to the decoding unit 24. Movement of the bell crank and handlecombination I18 pivoted to box 23 shifts frame I68 relatively to saidbox and raises or lowers a vertical plate I'll. The plate. at its lowerend. carries a stud I12 and an ear I18 to the latter of which is pivoteda lever I14 secured to a pivoted sleeve I15 to which is also attached anarm I18. When the data of the upper zone of the cards has been printedin one run, the handle I18 i moved to simultaneously shift the lideframe I88 for printing the data of the lower zone of the cards, onarerun, and to select the corresponding stop in the print chamber byactuation of a cross shaft I11 through the medium of said arm I18,'alink I18, and an arm I19. The

shaft I11 carries a stop arm I8I whose pin and slot connection to a keylink I82 permits adjust ment of the latter to align notches I83 thereinwith either stop I88 or I81 depending upon the position of the frameI88. The stops are retracted by a depressor arm I88 operated through ashaft I88 and cam lever combination I81 from a. stop cam I88 (Figs. 2and 3) on the shaft I28 in proper timed relation with the mechanism asshown in the cycle chart of Fig. 1'1, and any shifting of the key linkI82 (Fig. 16) can occur when the stops are depressed and only when thesensing chamber is devoid of a card. This is so that injury to theinterponent pins by a shift of the frame I88 is guarded against, whenthe sensing and interponent pins are raised, and to this end a lockingmeans is embodied in the mechanism to prevent zone shifting except atthe end of a run of cards. The stud I12 on plate "I is engaged by a hookI89 when the machine is running because the pin I9I, of a sleeved armI92 connected to'said hook I89, is resting atop a lever I93 which ismoved to the position shown in Fig. 15 by the action ofa no-card pin I94(Fig. 14) and a series of linkages working in conjunction with thestandard start-stop mechanism commonly employed in Powers tabulators andfound in the Ritzert patent referred to herein as well as in the PowersPatent 2,044,119. The main shaft I8 carries a cam I98 for raising avertical bar I91 to release the hook I89 through lever I93 When'thesensing chamber is devoid of a card, so that the frame I68 can beshifted to select the zone of the card from which the perthe influenceof cam 2I8, the springs 288, that forated data is to be printed withoutdamaging the interponents I89.

The printing of the data characters for the upper zone is done near thetop edge of the card and as stop H8 in raised position might interferewith the type wheels, a pressure pad 29 is employed to mechanicallyclamp the card to the printing platen I65 before the stop is withdrawnpreparatory to printing. The pressure pad, Figs. 2 and 3, comprises afloat bar I99 extending across the platen between the support arms 28Iand having suitable bosses on its underside for card holding engagement.Each end of the bar beyond the edge of the platen carries a stud 282which is engaged by a plunger 283 forced upwardly against the action ofa spring 288 when the roller of a cam lever 285 rides in the depressionof a cam 2 I8 on shaft I28. Downward-pressure on each plunger by stud282 is maintained by a spring 288 connecting the end of each support arm28I with the adjacent wall of the print unit frame 281, so that when theplunger at each side of the platen lowers under said arms 28I to dropdown about their pivotal points 289 to cause the pad to engage and holdthe card, at which time the arms 288 pivoted to .28I at 289, also drop.These arms 288,, carry the printing ribbon guides 2I I.

A mechanism, Fig. 3, is employed for engaging each of the printing wheelracks 26 and includes a pawl 2 I2 for each rack, supported within guidecombs 2 I3 carried on the bar 2 I4 whose arms 2I5 are secured to asuitable rock shaft 2I8. The latter is rocked by adepressor link 2I1 andbell crank lever 2I8 under influence of a depressor cam II5 on the shaftI28. The depressor mechanism provides a convenient and accurate meansfor aligning the type wheels 21 by counteracting lost motion between theparts and it also lowers or depresses the racks slightly and permits thewithdrawal of the stop bars 25 without friction or jamming.

While I have describedwhat I consider to be a desirable embodiment of myinvention, it is obvious that changes in form could be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and I, therefore, donot limit myself to the exact form herein shown and described, nor toanything less than the whole of my invention as hereinbefore set forth,and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a card interpreting and printing machine, means for feedingalternately arranged data and record cards, means for interpretingperforations in the data cards including a movable control pin, meansfor printing on the cards the data represented by said perforations, andmeans controlled by the movement of said control pin for preventingoperation of the means for printing on the data cards.

2. In a card interpreting and printing machme, means for feedingalternately arranged perforated data and record cards, means for sensingperforations in the data cards, movable stop means for holding the datacards so that the perforations thereof are in register with said sensingmeans, means for printing on the succeeding record cards the datarepresented by said perforations, and means controlled by the data cardsfor adjusting the movement of the stop means for holding the recordcards so that the perforations thereof are out of register with saidsensing means.

3. In a card interpreting and printing machine, means for feedingalternately arranged perforated data and record cards, means for readingperforations in a leading data card, means for printing on the followingrecord card the data represented by the perforations in said leadingdata card, means for preventing the printing means from printing on thedata card,

means for preventing the sensing of the perforations of said recordcard, and control pin means influenced by a perforation in the data cardfor controlling the operation of said printing and sensing preventingmeans.

4. In card printing apparatus, means for successively feeding cards,means for sensing data in alternate cards, control pin means operated bysaid sensing means, means for printing the sensed data of said alternatecards on the cards intermediate said alternatecards, and means actuatedby said control pin means for auto- 'assasvo.

matically disabling the printing means to prevent printing on saidalternatc cards 5. In a record controlled machine, record I sensingmeans including data set-up pins, latches for retaining said pins inset-up position, retract member operable in each cycle of machineaction,

means for operatively connecting said retract means and said actuatingmember, and record controlled means for adjusting said connecting meansto vary the operation "or said retract means.

7.'In ,a record controlled machine, record sensing means including dataset-up pins, latches for retaining said pins in set-up position, retractmeans for unlatching said pins, an actua member operable in each cycleof machine action,

means for operatively connecting said retract means and said actuatingmember, record controlled means, for adjusting said connecting means tovary the operation of 'said retract means, and means for manuallyadjusting said connecting means to provide unvarying operation of saidretract means. I

8. In a record controlled machine, record sensing means including dataset-up pins, latches for retaining said pins in set-up position, retractmeans for unlatching said pins, an actuating member operable in eachcycle of machine action, means for operatively connecting said retractmeans and said actuating member, record controlled means for adjustingsaid connecting meansto vary the operation of said retract means, meansfor manually adjusting said connecting means to provide unvaryingoperation of said retract means, and means operable by the manualadjusting means for disabling said record controlled means.

9. In a record interpreting machine, record sensing means, recordprinting means, means for disabling the printing means. a stop forarresting a record in the sensing means, means for moving the stop tohold a record in one position at which it may be sensed, means for con-I to enable the stop to hold another record in a din'erent position atwhich it cannot be sensed,-

disabling the printing means, a stop for arresting records in thesensing means, means for moving the stop to hold a record in-oneposition at which it may be sensed, means for transferring the sensedrecord to said printing means. means for conditioning the stop movingmeans and record controlledmeans for operating the stop conditioningmeans and the print disabling means for preventing the sensing of onerecord and the printing 0'! another record.

ditioning the stop moving means to enable the stop to hold a record inanother position at which it cannot be sensed, and means controlled bythe record for operating the stop conditioning means and said printdisabling means.

10. In a record interpreting machine, record sensing means, recordprinting means, means for disabling the printing means, a stop forarresting records in the sensing means, means for moving the stop tohold a first record in one position at which it may be sensed, means fortransferring the sensed record to said printing means, means forconditioning the stop moving means to enable the stop to hold a secondrecord in a different position at which it cannot be sensed, and meanscontrolled by the first record for operating the stop conditioning meansand the print disabling means for preventing the sensing of said secondrecord and theprinting or said first record.

11. In a record interpreting machine, record, sensing means, recordprinting means, means for 16 ing the hook with said link means, andrecord 12. In a record controlled machine having record sensing meansincluding data set-up pins and means for releasably retaining the pinsin set up position, an actuating member operable in each cycle ormachine action, means operable in response to operation of saidactuating member for actuating the second named means to release saidpins, and means for adjusting the third namedmeans for controlling theoperationv thereof.

13. In a record controlled machine having record sensing means includingdata set-up pins and means for releasably retaining the pins in set upposition, an actuating member operable in each cycle of machine action,means operable in response to operation of said actuating member foractuating the second named means to release said pins, and recordcontrolled means for adjusting the third named means for controlling theoperation thereoi'.

14. In a record controlled machine having record sensing means includingdata set-up pins and means for releasably retaining the pins in set upposition, an actuating member operable in each cycle or machine action,means operable in response to operation of said actuating member foractuating the second named means to release said pins, and recordcontrolled means for adjusting the third named means for controlling onemanner of operation thereof, and means for manually adjusting said thirdnamed means for arranging the latter for another manner of operationthereof. v

15. In a record controlled machine having record sensing means includingdata set-uppins and means for releasably retaining the pins in set uppomtion, an actuating member operable in each cycle of machine action,means operable in response to operation of said actuating member foractuating the second named means to release said pins, and recordcontrolled means for adjusting the third named means for controlling onemanner of operation thereof, means for manually adjusting said thirdnamed means for arranging the latter for another manner of operationthereof, and means operable by the manual adjusting means for disablingthe record controlled means.

16. In a record controlled. machine, record sensing means, a stop forarresting records at diiterent positions in the sensing means, means formoving the stop including a pivoted arm and a link connected to the armfor moving the latter a predetermined arcuate distance to cause the stopto arrest records at one position, a hook on said arm and means on saidlink engageable by the hook for moving said arm a diflerent arcuatedistance to cause the stop to arrest records at controlled means foractuating said latching means.

18. In a record controlled machine as set forth in claim 16 includinglatching means for engaging the hook with said link means, recordcontrolled means for actuating said latch means, and manually controlledmeans for disabling said record controlled means.

JOI-IN MUELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record insthe file ofthis patent:

- Number 16 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Lasker June 16, 1936 LaskerJune 16, 1936 Mills Oct. 4, 1938 Daubmeyer May 9, 1939 Cox Sept. 10,1940 Thomas June 21, 1942 Ritzert Feb. 16, 1943 Thomas July 13, 1945

